In what may turn out to be – when historians get to the matter – the crowning turn as a dorky dad of his presidency, Barack Obama on Wednesday announced he would let two turkeys live that were not going to be slaughtered anyway.
The good news came at the annual presidential pardoning of turkeys, a Thanksgiving tradition since Ronald Reagan invented it, on a whim, in 1987.
Obama appeared outside the White House shortly before 1.30pm to announce the news. He was accompanied by his daughters Malia, 15, and Sasha, 12. To the left were two unnaturally large birds, called Popcorn and Caramel. At the podium were remarks containing an appalling parade of corny jokes.
“The office of the presidency, the most powerful position in the world, brings with it many awesome and solemn responsibilities,” Obama began. “This is not one of them. But the White House turkey pardon is a great tradition, and I know Malia loves it, as does Sasha.” The last line was met with the affectionate eyerolls.
The president introduced the birds and said they were the winners of a vote by schoolchildren in Minnesota, where the turkeys were raised.
“They, like my chief of staff, are Vikings fans,” the president said. A bird gobbled. “You see?”
Popcorn and Caramel had beaten out a field of 80 birds for the honor of being pardoned in Washington, Obama said, Guardian informs.
